HARARE WETLANDS UNDER SIEGE!
The massive deterioration of wetlands in Harare over the past 10 years is a serious cause for concern with urgent and decisive intervention required.
I have been monitoring developments along Cumberland Rd, that connects Enterprise Rd to Samora Machel Ave and in this thread are steps that have been adopted and are now followed to transform a gazetted wetland into a buildable area without @EMAeep , @cohsunshinecity and @JMafume noticing it. And this is happening in many areas against the spirit of the EMAct 20:27 and S.I. 7 of 2007 on protection of ecologically sensitive ecosystems.

Step 1: Identify an open space and occupy it
Developers usually after failing to get approvals from EMA and HCC to construct on wetlands they neglect the area for some time. Then come with rubble to dump on site so that they cover the typical black-grey soils and vegetation that is found on the wetland.

Step 2: Fencing the area
This is done to secure the place in preparation of subsequent real construction process or other transitional uses such as development of carsales.

Step 3: Transitional use
Depending on where the project is located, with time the developer temporarily opens a carsale to fool stakeholders that whatever happening is not that serious.

Step 4: Real construction in action
With passage of time, obviously after stakeholders forget that once-upon-a-time there was a wetland, the developer starts real construction works, that may have been denied by autorities in the first place.

These findings are just coming from a small area in Harare only to bring to attention of authorities, how protection of wetlands is getting neglected thus placing the entire city on fire.
Water is life!
@EMAeep @birdlifezim @WMBD @UNDPZimbabwe @zinwawater @ZELA_Infor @EnvironmentAfr @nickmangwana @JoanaMamombe @MoLGPWZim @basera_john @PoliceZimbabwe @Harare_Wetlands